Passaic Considers Changes To Emergency Fees Plan

Passaic officials are considering changes to a proposed ordinance that would allow the fire department to charge property owners for emergency responses.

Mayor Alex Blanco says he'll introduce an amended proposed ordinance on Tuesday that would exempt all structures, including large apartment buildings and commercial properties, from emergency response fees.

The current proposal would allow the fire department to charge the owner of a commercial property $1,000 for the first two hours of fighting a fire, then $500 for every hour thereafter.

Councilman Chaim Munk tells The Record newspaper the city is trying to recoup some of the cost of fighting fires from insurance companies.